Marina sat in the corner of her room, hyperventilating. She revealed herself to everyone, she saw their looks, they were all disgusted and wanted her dead. She had become caught up in such a torrent of emotions that she hadn't even noticed when her door opened up a tiny bit with Adele, Alice, and Adrianna peeking in.
"Should we comfort her?" Adele asked.
"You two can, I'll stand out here to hold Emily and Tor off if they come storming up here to kill her," Alice told her sisters.
Adele and Adrianna slipped inside the room. "Mar-Marina," Adele whispered, afraid that she might lash out at them.
Marina turned and looked at them, her form was flickering between human and xenomorph, her tail the only thing remaining visible at all times. When she looked human her eyes conveyed something that actually scared the two girls more than her xenomorph form, pure dread and despair. "So you sent people to try and pacify me before killing me, huh?" she asked, acceptance in her voice. She knew that she couldn't fight off everyone.
"No one is going to kill you," Adele told her.
"Yeah. Not with Alice standing guard," Adrianna added. "The only people who want to kill you are Emily and Tor. David is unsure though."
"That makes me feel so much better," Marina sardonically replied. "But I'm not surprised by that. Who wouldn't want me dead after learning that I am a monster?"
"And are we dead meat?" Adrianna asked. "None of the Duax family is even considering wanting you dead."
"Well you should," she muttered. "I am a creature filled with bloodlust that I am only somewhat able to keep in check."
"And do you want me dead?" Alice asked from the doorway.
"Why are you even asking that? It isn't even pertinent to the conversation."
"Did you forget that I am Aurélie's rage?" Alice responded. "How many times do you think that I have sat in her subconscious, stewing in murderous intent? The few times that I have actually acted upon my feelings, people were hospitalized. From what I understand, you are much better at holding back than I am. And no one wants to kill me."
"Because you terrify people!" Marina protested. "No one wants to try to kill you because you seem to be this untouchable force."
"You really think that I am untouchable? You don't know me at all then."
"People also don't kill you because you look human and are human," Marina added.
"I don't know if that is even true. Humans are supposed to be able to feel such a wide array of emotions, yet I am boiled down to being rage and contempt. Do you really think that a normal human feels only those feelings."
"You still love your sisters."
"And you love your brother," Alice shot back as she moved closer to Marina.
"We'll just wait outside," Adele squeaked as she pulled Adrianna out of the room.
"You also love my brother."
"I don't know if I do. I just know that Aurélie likes him. For all I know that could be the entire basis for why he doesn't annoy me. I am nothing without Aurélie. You are your own person. I could disappear and no one would search for me. People would search for you." Alice sat down on the edge of Marina's bed and looked at her. "I merely exist as an extension of Aurélie."
Marian gazed at the red-haired girl thoughtfully. "Sounds like we both have existential crises of sorts," she whispered.
"Doesn't help that Aurélie's crises are also mine. Sexuality has been a big sticking point for her. It is 2044 and some people still have a hard time accepting that members of LGBT community are people who deserve respect. Most of the times I've had to put people in their place was when they hurled homophobic slurs at Aurélie, Adele, or Amelie."
Marina's eyes widened a bit. This whole conversation was beginning to make her realize how much she had in common with Alice. "I know that feeling," Marina murmured. "Alice, can I confide something to you?" Alice nodded. "I'm a lesbian. Not even my own family knows. Every time I see or hear a slur thrown about, I feel a twinge of guilt. I should also be taking those slurs, not just the person they are directed at." She sighed. "It is just a good analogy for my condition I guess. I was too afraid to show off my true self and I am too afraid to come out of the closet." She met Alice's eyes. "Thank you."
"Yeah. Yeah. I'm not as good at this as Adele or Aurélie, but I figured you needed to hear it from someone who was in a similar situation. Now, are you ready to face everyone?"
Marina wiped a tear from her eyes as she nodded.
AN: Hello everyone! I am back! Sorry for the unannounced hiatus. I had other things on my mind in the past month. But I am back now. I hope that you enjoyed this chapter as it was fun to write.